IN THE death of Girish Bapat, MP and a long-time BJP loyalist, the political scene of Pune has lost a leader who had friends across party lines.
His accessibility to party workers, activists and ordinary citizens ensured that he remained the most popular figure in politics of Pune city.
Small wonder then that let alone his associates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), even leaders from Opposition Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) rushed to his residence on receiving the news of Bapat’s demise. Many were seen breaking down as they remembered their association with Girishbhau, as Bapat was known among locals and in his friend circle. The state NCP even cancelled its scheduled meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday as a mark of respect to the departed leader. NCP chief Sharad Pawar rushed to Pune to pay tributes to the Parliamentarian.
“He (Bapat) had close relations with leaders from every party… When we were staying at MLA’s hostel, he went out of his way to cook food for us,” recalled Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
NCP spokesperson Ankush Kakade said, “We had been friends for decades. Though we belonged to different parties and ideologies, we attended several social functions together and shared stage in an atmosphere of bonhomie…The other day, my wife made ‘poha’ for him…He said he wanted to eat it but was in no condition to…”
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, “He was popular even among rival parties of the BJP as the leaders felt a special bond with him because of his good nature and accessibility. He was a Brahmin face of the BJP but the ‘Bahujan Samaj’ accepted him as their own.”
Senior Congress leader Ulhas Pawar said, “I would like to recall a recent incident, which was the last meeting presided over by Girish Bapat as District Guardian Minister at Council Hall. I got a call from the District Collectorate. The official told me that the Guardian Minister wanted me to attend the meeting. I said that I was not even a member of the district committee… When I went there, Bapatsaheb asked me to sit next to him. Later, he felicitated me and told everyone present how much he idolised me as a leader. I was completely taken aback.”
Santosh Shinde, state president of Sambhaji Brigade, said, “Bapat went beyond the boundaries of caste and religion to strike a bond with people from different denominations. Though he was in the BJP, he stood out for his unique qualities of making friends with one and all.”
City Congress general secretary Ramesh Iyer said, “Girish Bapat’s popularity can be gauged by the fact that he remained a winner on political terrain all his life…Probably, it had to do with his ability to strike a chord with people of different backgrounds.”
Iyer said Bapat, NCP’s Kakade and Congress’s Shantilal Suratwala were famous in Pune city as “GAS” for their close association. “The three were popular for ushering in a new culture on Pune’s political terrain,” Iyer said.
BJP city spokesperson Sandeep Khardekar said Bapat was like a father figure to him. “Girishbhau was a leader of the masses. He stood rock solid behind ordinary party karyakartas. Behind his simplicity was a serious leader who planned everything meticulously. At the same time, he was jovial to the core and would make you laugh when you are tense.”
Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Pune chief Mukund Kirdat said, “He was known for his politeness, simplicity and down-to-earth nature. He had the large-heartedness to applaud even his rivals. He was truly a mass leader.”
Mahesh Landge, president of BJP Pimpri-Chinchwad unit, said, “Girish Bapat’s friendly approach was a source of inspiration and strength for me. He gave me invaluable guidance and support when I shifted to the BJP from the NCP.”
